Clip retained wall structure



Aug. 2, 1955 N, NELSSQN 2,714,305

CLIP RETAINED WALL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 19. 1951 1N V EN TOR.

United States Patent O CLIP RETAINED WALL STRUCTURE Nels Nelsson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 19, 1951, Serial No. 206,893

Claims. (Cl. 7246) This invention relates to building construction and more particularly to the combination of starter and anchoring clips for use in securing a plurality of lath panels to a stationary supporting structure. The present construction is an improvement in the type of construction generally disclosed in Patent No. 2,661,515, issued December 8, 1953.

Various clips of this type have heretofore been proposed which are of such design that they fail to provide the necessary support for the panels under normal conditions or are awkward to handle when mounting on the supporting structure.

Thus it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a combination of starter and anchoring clips which will facilitate the erection of a wall or ceiling possessed of improved structural characteristics.

`It is a further object of this invention to provide starter and anchoring clips which are of Simple design and may be easily manipulated and secured to the supporting structure.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide starter and anchoring clips which will effectively hold the panels against the supporting structure without the necessity of tie wires or similar types of fastening means.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide starter and anchoring clips which will enable one workman to readily erect a wall or ceiling.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a starter clip is provided for use in combination with an anchoring clip and a fixed structural element having a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures formed therein, the starter clip comprising an elongated body section having a portion thereof in yieldingly-engageable relation with one of said apertures. A second portion of the body section is adapted to be in resilient interlocking relation with the anchoring clip.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference is made to the drawings, wherein Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall construction showing the lath panels and clips in position prior to the application of the plaster coat to said panels;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the wall construction shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the wall construction taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the wall construction taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the starter clip.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l an uniinished wall is shown comprising a plurality of lath panels a and 10b, arranged in edge-toedge relationship, secured by a plurality of anchoring and starter clips 14 and 1S, respectively, to a vertical metallic stud 11. The adjoining edges of adjacent panels, as seen in Fig. l, are maintained in proper alignment with respect to one another by a reinforcing clip 16 or any other suitable "ice means. The stud 11 is mounted at its upper end in a runner 12 and secured thereto by any suitable means. The runner 12 is secured to a ceiling member 13 by nails 16 which extend through elongated slots 17 formed in the base portion 18 of runner 12. The runner 12 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and has the flange portions 19 thereof provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures 20 which are adapted to cooperate with the starter clip 1S.

The starter clip 1S, which is shown more clearly in Fig. 5, is formed of rod or wirelike material and comprises an elongated body portion 21 which is slightly bowed, a linger 21 extending angularly from one end of said body portion, and a second finger 22 extending angularly from the opposite end of body portion 21. Finger 21 and a portion 24 of linger 22 are convergent with respect to one another and are adapted to yieldingly or resiliently engage the portion of the iiange disposed between adjacent apertures 20a and 20h. The free end of linger 22 terminates in a downwardly extending loop 23; the function of which will become apparent hereinafter. The portion 24 of linger 22, which is disposed convergently with respect to linger 21', is oliset with respect to the remainder of the linger 22.

To effect positioning of the starter clip on the runner 12, the operator lirst threads the clip through aperture 2Gb, adjacent the stud, as best seen in Fig. 2, until loop 23 abuts the flange 19 whereupon the clip is then turned at substantially a right angle until linger 21 is in registration with aperture a and extends therethrough. Gnce finger 21 has been positioned within aperture 20a, the applicator or workman exerts a force on body portion 21 until offset portion 24 of linger 22 is pushed back through aperture 2ilb whereupon the flange 19 is resiliently held between lingers 21 and 22. The bowing of body portion 21 effects the resilient gripping by the lingers 21 and 22 and also compensates for any nonuniformity which might might exist between the spaced apertures.

The loop 23, as seen in Fig. 3, which is formed at the free end of linger 22 is spaced from body portion 21 and is adapted to have the upper edge of a panel 10b disposed behind the same. When the panel 10b is so positioned, the loop 23 resiliently holds the upper edge of the panel 10b against the exposed side of flange 19. The loop 23, which is exposed when the panel 10b is in position, is adapted to resiliently interlock with an anchoring clip 14.

One form of anchoring clip 14 is shown in the drawing and comprises a head section 2:3 which is adapted to resiliently embrace a column portion 11a of the stud 11, a panel-engaging center section 26 extending at substantially a right angle from said head section, and a hasp section 27 extending at substantially a right angle from the end of center section 26. The head section is substantially U-shaped and has the legs 28 and 3i) thereof slightly convergent to elfect resilient embracing of stud 11 by the head section. Leg 2S has the end thereof integral with one end 32 of center section 26. The other leg 311 of head section 25 has a free end 31 thereof offset at substantially a right angle, as seen in Figs. l and 2. The olfset end. 31 is disposed substantially parallel with respect to center section 26 and is adapted to engage the lower edge portion of the panel 10b and resiliently hold it against stud 11 when the anchoring clip 14 is operatively positioned on the stud 11. The offset end 31 also serves to prevent any rocking or rotation of the anchoring clip in the event of a loose lit between the head section 2S thereof and the stud column portion 11a engaged thereby.

The end portion 32 of center section Z6 of the anchoring clip which is integrally connected to leg 28 of the head section is offset outwardly a slight amount and is adapted to allow the hasp section 27a of the anchoring clip 14a dis posed therebeneath to resiliently interlock with leg 28 of f? exi the clip 14. The center section 26 is normally bowed inwardly so that when the clip 14 is in interlocking relation with the starter clip 15 or an adjacent anchoring clip the panel b is resiliently held against the stud 11. Furthermore by reason of the bowed center section 26, the weight of the panel, particularly in a ceiling construction, is more evenly distributed along the center section.

The hasp section 27, as seen in Fig. 2, is disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the center section 26 of the anchoring clip 14 and is also disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the head section 25. The hasp section 27 is bowed downwardly a slight amount and has the free end 33 thereof flared so as to facilitate slidable engagement of the hasp seection 2'7 with either the loop portion 23 of starter clip 15 or the leg 28 of anchoring clip 14. The bowing of the hasp section prevents accidental disengagement of the hasp section from loop portion 23 or leg 28 once the clip 14 has been brought into interlocking relation therewith.

In erecting a wall of this type, the workman or applicator proceeds as follows: (a) subsequent to mounting the runner 12 on the joist or ceiling member 13 and the placement of the stud in the runner, the starter clip is positioned on flange 19 adjacent the stud in a manner as shown and heretofore described; (b) a lath panel ltlb is then positioned so that the upper edge portion thereof is disposed intermediate the loop portion 23 of starter clip and the flange 19 of runner 12 and the remainder of the panel contacts the column portion 11a of the stud 11 or is in point contact with the portions 34 of the web wire v3S where such portions protrude beyond the column portion 11n as shown in Fig. 3; (c) the anchoring clip 14 is then brought into embraceable relationship with the stud 11 in such a manner that the offset end 31 of leg 3i) engages the exposed surface of the panel 10b and resiliently holds the lower edge portion of panel lltlb against stud 11; (d) the bowed center section 26 of anchoring clip 14 is then moved to an unbowed position and the hasp section 27 thereof is brought into slidable interlocking relation with the loop portion 23 of starter clip 15; (e) a second lath panel 10a is then positioned beneath panel 1Gb as shown in Fig. l and the anchoring clip 14a is brought into embraceable relationship with respect to stud 11 in a man- Yner as heretofore described and the hasp section 27a of the lower clip is caused to slidably interlock with the leg Z8 of the upper clip; and (f) after the lath panels have been properly laid against the stud 11 a coat of plaster is applied to the exposed surface of the panels.

The plaster coat applied to the panels must, of course, be of suiiicient thickness to adequately cover the protruding loop portion 23 of the starter clip 15 and the leg 23 of the anchoring clip 14.

Thus it will be seen that a combination of starter and anchoring clips and base runner have been provided which enable a single workman to readily erect a wall or ceiling possessed of improved structural characteristics. Further advantages derived from such a wall or ceiling construction are (a) a high sound absorption rating; structures of the type herein contemplated having been found to have a rating of forty-tive (45) decibels or more; and (b) a high fire resistance quality in excess of a one (l) hours rating for a wall of three-eighths (3/8) inch lath panel having a one-half (1/2) inch plaster coat; in accordance with the standards established by the American Society for Testing Materials and recognized by the Bureau of Standards. Furthermore, anchoring and starter clips have been provided which will effectively support the panels without the need for tie wires or other fastening means.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modiiications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. The combination of a starter clip, a runner having a portion thereof provided with a plurality of spaced apertures engaged by said starter clip, a support attached to said runner, lath panels arranged in edge-to-edge relation, and anchoring clips cooperating with said starter clip and support for holding said panels against said support; said starter clip comprising an elongated center section, a hook-shaped nger extending transversely from one end of said center section and projecting through one runner aperture, and a resilient second linger extending transversely from said center section and projecting through a second runner aperture, said second finger having the free end thereof terminating in a closed loop which is positioned beyond the exposed surface of said lath panels; each anchoring clip comprising a head section embracing said support and having a pair of leg portions, one of said leg portions having an offset end portion engaging the exposed surface of said lath panels. a bowed elongated body section extending transversely from the other of said leg portions and resiliently engaging the exposed surface of said lath panels, and a bowed elongated hasp section extending transversely from said body section and effecting interlocking relation with the closed loop of said starter clip.

2. In a wall construction having a lath panel and an anchoring clip, securing means comprising runner means and a starter clip cooperating with said runner means, the latter including a portion thereof having spaced apertures therein; said starter clip being provided with a resilient elongated bent center section positioned on one side of said runner portion, a first finger extending angularly from one end of said center section and extending through a first aperture in said runner portion, and a second iinger extending angularly from the other end of said center section and extending through a second aperture in said runner portion, the normal spacing between said ngers being different from the spacing between said first and second runner apertures whereby said fingers yieldably engage said runner means, said second finger having the free end thereof terminating in loop means, said loop means being positioned on the other side of said runner portion, the anchoring clip being in engagement with said loop means and resiliently maintaining the lath panel between said runner means and the anchoring clip.

3. In a wall construction having a vertical support, lath panels arranged in edge-to-edge relationship overlying the support, and anchoring clips embracing the support and yieldably engaging the outer panel surfaces, securing means comprising a runner and a starter clip cooperating with said runner, the latter being mounted transversely on the support, said runner including a portion thereof having a pair of spaced apertures therein; said starter clip being provided with a resilient elongated bent center section positioned on one side of said runner portion, a rst linger extending angularly from one end of said center section and inserted through one aperture of said pair of runner apertures, and a second linger extending angularly from the other end of said center section and inserted through the second of said pair of runner apertures, the normal spacing between said fingers being different from the spacing between said pair of apertures whereby said fingers yieldably engage said runner, said second nger having the free end thereof terminating in loop means positioned on the other side of said runner portion and through which the uppermost anchoring clip is threaded.

4. In a wall construction having a runner, a portion of which is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, a transversely disposed support attached to the runner, and lath panels arranged in edge-to-edge relationship overlying the runner and the support, panel-securing clip means comprising a starter clip and anchoring clips, each of said anchoring clips being provided with a substantially U-shaped head section embracing the support, an elongated body portion extending angularly from said head section and yieldably engaging the outer surface of one of the lath panels, and a hasp section extending angularly from said body portion substantially normal to said head section and engaging in interlocking relation said starter clip; said starter clip including a resilient elongated bent center section positioned on one side of the apertured runner portion, a first finger extending angularly from one end of said center section and inserted through a first aperture in the runner portion, and a second iinger extending angularly from the other end of said center section and inserted through a second aperture in the runner portion, the normal spacing between said ingers being different from the spacing between the first and second runner apertures whereby said fingers yieldably engage the runner, said second finger having the free end thereof terminating in loop means through which the hasp section of the anchoring clip is threaded.

5. In a wall construction having a vertical support and lath panels arranged in edge-to-edge relationship overlying the support, the combination of a runner mounted transversely to the support and including a portion thereof provided with a plurality of spaced aper tures, a starter clip, and anchoring clips, each of the latter being provided with a substantially U-shaped head section embracing the support, an elongated body portion extending angularly from said head section and yieldably engaging the outer surface of a lath panel, and a hasp section extending angularly from said body section substantially normal to said head section and engaging in interlocking relation said starter clip; said starter clip including a resilient elongated bent center section on one side of the apertured runner portion, a rst finger extending angularly from one end of said center section and inserted through a rst aperture in the runner portion, and a second nger extending angularly from the other end of said center section and inserted through a second aperture in the runner portion, the normal spacing between said fingers being different from the spacing between the first and second runner apertures whereby said iingers yieldably engage the runner, said second finger having the free end thereof terminating in loop means through which the hasp section of said anchoring clip is threaded.

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